The Latest: Trump says Republicans should run on his record

President Donald Trump is arguing that Republicans need to control Congress by casting the midterms as a referendum on himself.

In a raucous rally in a sweltering gymnasium in Ohio Saturday, Trump pitched for Ohio state Sen. Troy Balderson, the GOP candidate running in a special election this coming Tuesday. He defiantly questioned the idea that historically, the party that controls the White House suffers in the midterms, declaring "but I say why?"

Though boisterous and bellicose, Trump steered clear of the trouble he stirred up the night before when he blasted one of Ohio's favorite sons, LeBron James on Twitter, questioning James' intelligence.

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7:45 p.m.

President Donald Trump is predicting a "tremendous victory" for Ohio state Sen. Troy Balderson, who is running in Tuesday's special election for an open congressional seat.

Trump promoted other Republican officeholders and candidates in Ohio as he rallied supporters Saturday night at Olentangy Orange High School north of Columbus.

Trump called Balderson "the guy who will do things" and dismissed Balderson's Democratic opponent, Franklin County recorder Danny O'Connor, as a person nobody knows.

Trump also brought to the stage Ohio congressman Jim Jordan, calling him "a tough cookie." The crowd chanted "speaker of the House," a reference to the possibility that Jordan will seek the speakership after November's midterm elections.

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5:45 p.m.

Hundreds of people are slowly making their way into an Ohio high school ahead of a rally headlined by President Donald Trump.

Trump is appearing at Olentangy Orange High School north of Columbus in support of GOP congressional candidate Troy Balderson before a special election Tuesday.

Truck driver and Trump supporter Rob LaPat is attending his first Trump rally. The 46-year-old LaPat says he likes the fact the economy is doing well and unemployment is down.

A few dozen protesters are lined along a walkway outside the school holding signs that say "Impeach 45" and "Real News Fake President."

Trump critic Susan Lindquist says she's trying to change one person's mind at a time about the president, who she says is destroying the country.

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9:38 a.m.

President Donald Trump is seizing on the prospect of Democrat Nancy Pelosi becoming House speaker again as he makes his pitch for Republican candidates.

Trump was traveling Saturday to Ohio to hold a rally for state Sen. Troy Balderson, who is running in Tuesday's special election for an open congressional seat against Democrat Danny O'Connor, the Franklin County recorder. The seat opened up when Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi resigned in January to lead the Ohio Business Roundtable.

The rally comes hours after Trump denounced arguably Ohio's favorite native son, basketball superstar LeBron James, who just opened a school for underprivileged children in Akron.